Forked Thread: PDF or Dead tree?

[sjmiller]

First off, let me say that I find the term "dead tree" to be pejorative, so I object to its use. Why not use "spent electrons" while you are at it?

Now, to answer your question, I prefer books. Something I can hold in my hand wherever I go, even during a power outage. If I happen to get a pdf I will more often then not print it out, bind it, and store the pdf on a CD-ROM somewhere.

I do not like sitting in front of a computer to read my game books. I do not like having computers at the gaming table. Maybe it is just because I started gaming when computers were as big as a table, or maybe it is because I find using a computer at the table puts a barrier between GM and player.

So, unless it is not available in print, I will take a book any day over "spent electrons".

 

[deganawida]

Dead tree, all the way, and for multiple reasons. First, I don't like reading large amounts of text on the computer; I tend to lose my place easily, and eye strain kicks in after a little while. Second, I hate the PDF format, as I find it unwieldy. Third, there's nothing that can compare to the entire feel of a new book: the weight of it in your hands, the smell of it, the way the pages feel as you turn each one, the excitement at viewing a new page. PDFs just don't come close IMO.

All that said, I've looked at the Kindle, and if books came out in electric form in a different format that made the most of something like the Kindle, I'd probably buy them in conjunction with the books.

 

[Papa-DRB]

My tastes have changed in the last few years.

Before Paizo subscriptions (Charter AP, ie. rolled over Dungeon magazine subscription) I was strictly a physical book (dead tree) person.

With the free PDF file, plus I am the DM, plus I have a decent laptop of my own now, I have come to prefer PDFs since it works so much better for me at the game table. That way I have multiple copies of the adventure open, as well as the Beta rules, plus my notes, etc. It is now *way* less cluttered behind the DM screen. I still roll dice and I use combat cards for initiative, but everything else is on the computer.

Since this has worked out so well, I have stopped one of my three Paizo subscriptions (Chronicles) and will be purchasing only PDFs for that. However I will still be getting physical books for the Adventure Paths and the RPG subscription as well as the PDFs.

 

[Wombat]

I have a number of pdfs; I also have a fair few print books.

Why one over the other? Well, several reasons...

If I have no real intention of playing the game, I find pdfs are quite handy -- it allows me to read through the work without taking up a lot of space. PDFs can also be handy for quick rules-searching, though as I do not own a laptop, I don't do this at the table. And, of course, there are many small presses out there (especially in the 3e heyday) that put out short pdf-only supplements, several of which I found quite handy! And, of course, I can always print out a file if it comes to that.

As to the physical copies, these are best for actually fully reading and running the rules, as opposed to glancing at them or musing over them. It is very hard to create a character from a pdf, as you usually need to flip back and forth multiple times to various sections of the book -- much less hassle to do this with a standard book than a file! And simply having the book at the table is useful (and, at times, quite intimidating).

So, split decision -- I have uses for both formates.

 

[catsclaw227]

I chose that it depends on the situation, but I most often buy PDFs. Especially adventures and crunch books. I would rather copy-paste into a single document than thumb through books during the game.

Also, I like to tweak stuff, so once I copy-paste, I can edit.

And I love Andor's monster maker. It lets me grab monsters from the compendium and edit, then save as HTML that I copy paste into OneNote.

 

[Derulbaskul]

I live most of the year in Singapore but I DM my games in Australia. This means that PDFs are very important for me else I'm not going to be able to run/prepare my games. That said, DDi and the Compendium have helped immeasurably.

However, I do prefer reading "dead tree" versions (I'm still trying to work out how that can be a pejorative... but this is the internet so anything is possible) especially for learning a system but otherwise PDFs are fine. I don't mind reading on screen but generally only after I have a good feel for the book from reading the "dead tree" version.

Also, I have no interest in buying WotC adventures in anything other than PDF format. I never run adventures as written and I was enjoying having the cheaper option of buying them as PDFs (and the lower price I paid was consistent with their lower quality: I really wish WotC learnt to produce good adventures again [or just get Rich Baker to write all of them- he is still really, really good]).

Without wanting to start another round of extreme nerd rage, WotC's decision to pull PDFs was a pain for me. However, I think "live in one country and prepare games there for running in another country 7,000 kms away" is an incredibly small demographic subset so I don't expect them to change their decision for me. Of course, I will still get my PDFs but now I'm not paying for them....

 

[Festivus]

I despise reading on the screen with an abiding passion. (Obviously, messageboards are an exception. ) I'll occasionally buy a PDF if it's something that catches my interest but don't expect to use much, and if it's short, but if it's anything I plan to read in deapth, or to reference frequently, hardcopy all the way, every time.

This is my sentiment exactly. I'll just add that there is something about the look, feel and smell of a book that is comforting to me and puts me into a mood to read. Sitting at a computer is too much like sitting at work.

 

[Invisible Stalker]

If you want my money, sell me a printed book.

I've never bought PDFs and I never will.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Well so far (not many votes) it seems that ENW is happy to use PDF/e-format in RPG but prefers print.

 

[Voadam]

I have filled up a whole bookshelf and spilled into another. I have limited physical storage space for new physical books and get them sparingly (mostly as gifts when family ask for suggestions or they check out my extensive amazon wish list). I occasionally have splurged on mega sales such as the green ronin one with $2 books or used books through amazon.

I do the vast majority of my rpg purchases as pdfs and have for years.

I do a lot of online gaming and very infrequent face to face gaming now, and I like having the search and copy and paste functionality of electronic documents as well as the capability of printing out only the monsters/NPCs I plan to use during a face to face game instead of carrying lots of books. I am also hugely cost conscious and there are a lot of cheap pdfs I am interested in.

I have a ton of print books and find them easier to read but other factors drive most of my purchases currently.

I expect I am in a small minority.